Automobile transmission lock



April 5 1 927.

W. NIL-REASON AUTOMOB-ILE TRANSMISSION Lock Filed Aug. 14. 1922 I I mlcptom l/z/ier Mrs s- I A I 1523519 .WALTER M.- REASON, or PONTIAC, MICE-EGAN, ASSIGNORTO EMZAB THBALLAMOs 0F PONTIAC, MICHI AN.

AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSION 'L ocK,

Application filed August 14, 1922. Serial No. 581,601.

This invention relates to locks for shift levers of power transmission mechanism theobject being to provide a sample and efficlentlocking device .for maintaining the shift lever of an automobile power transmission set in its neutral position. The feature'of the invention is in the provision of a memher that is sl'idable by means of the key andlocked in either of two positionsthat is the barrel in which the key is ins'ertible is moved longitudinally to the locking po sition and is'locked in such a. position and is unlocked and moved to unlocked position and is locked in the said unlocked position. A further object is to secure a very simple and inexpensive locking structure for this purpose these objects and several novelfea- .tures of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and explained and the preferred form of construction of a locking device embodying my invention is shownin the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section showing my improved locking structure in locked position. y

F ig. 2 is a similar view showing the unlocked position. i j I Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 0f F 1g. 2.

In the usual power transmission set for automotive vehicles there is ordinarily employed a shift lever such asis here indicated at l which is pivot-ally mounted in the case, a portion which is indicated 2. Usuallyvthe shift lever is provided with a ball portion 3al'though often times a difierent structure is utilized as for instance a spherical shaped member having the same general function as the ball here shown as is well understood by those familiar with art. The shift lever is rocked forward or back from the position shown in Fig. 1 to bring the lower shift arm 4 to position to engage one or the other of shift gears or forks therefor not hereshown and then the lever 1 is moved to the right or left to shift the gear from its neutral position. However the position of the lever shown in Fig. 1 as is well known, the driving gears of the transmission are out of commission and inoperative. My object is to provide a locking means to prevent shifting of the lever from'its neutral position and for this purpose I have provided at a convenient point on the transmission case 2 and directly to the rear of the lever 1 an outward" projecting hollow member 5, havinga front cylindrical aperture 6 and an aperture I at the bottom therei of opening into the interior of the case to, engage the ball or other member as the case may be movable with the lever- 1. In the interior of the hollow member'5 is provided the locking device which consistsof'a' barrel and the lockboltj9. The barrel is of ui'ual wellknown type into' the outer end of wh'i'clrtjhe key is insertable v and by rotation of the key the lock' pins 10 and 11 on opposite sides (which normally project out-' ward from the surface of barrelu8) may be drawn in practically flush with the surface which will permit the barrel to Aberotatedin the shell 5.' This shell is provided with a series of notches l2sand 13 at onepointand on. diametrically opposite sides'ofthe shell and similar notches 14 and ,15 at a right angle thereto and on diametrically 0pposite sides of the shell as will stood from Figs. 1 and 8. The

pins lO and 11 are d rawn in to the'surfaee L r of the barrel and then the barrel may be" rotated by the key one-fourth of a turn and be underp notches 14: and 15 are in staggered relation i'th th the barrel withdrawn and moved outwardly from the position shown in Fig.1 until the pins lO'a'n'd 11 therein register with the notches l4 'and115. At this point tlie' key may be turned to release the pins which will project in the notches hold the barrel in locked position.

In the position shown in Fig. 1, the barrel r 8 is at its lowermost point and the bolt 9, which is secured'to the barrel 8, projects," through the aperture 7 into a recess 16in the ball 3 or otherportion of theshift lever which, when the lever is in neutral position, is in alignment or registration with the aperture 7 With the bolt in position shown in Fig. 1 the shift lever is held from move ment in any direction as movement tends to shear the bolt. Therefore, although the bolt is small and the parts are cheaply constructed yet the bolt 9 being of hardened steel it withstands any forcethat can be. applied thereto by the lever. The barrel of the lock as here shown is of well kIlQWIl form and in general public 14 and 15 and use." anditherefOr "further details and de- 1 scription of; operation of the pins and inter'ior structure of the lock is: unnecessary.

I Will ,be readily understood in 'most' conven-v ient position for operation by the driver of the vehicle and to lockor unlock the device *"fturne'd to withdraw the pins 10 and 11 The new feature involved in this look is in the longitudinal movement of abarrel and the lock bolt in the chamber of the member 5 The member 5 may be peaned overat theend as indicated at 17 to prevent removal of thelock from its case. tion of the look as heretofore "stated is directly to the 7 rear of the shift lever as merely requires the key being inserted and whereupon it may be moved to project or 5 withdraw the bolt 9'to or. from engagement within the ball recess and 1 then turned to 'align the pins. with the desired recesses in the shell 5] whereupon the barrel and bolt are lockedin. position in' the shell. This is necessary whether the shiftlever is locked orfi'unlocked and-prevents the bolt from accidently] sliding to the locked position when the car 'is in use or from being moved {from locked position when the car is not in 'useg- "Having described my lnvention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent havof, a diameter somewhat greater than the diameter of the'ball'and in which the ball seats, the sai'd'upper end of the casing havj ng anaperture through .which the lever E projects of a form and diameter to permit rocking of the lever in any direction, a boss, inte'gr'ally formedwith the casing and lying at an-angle to the vertical axis thereof,-the said boss having a central chamber and an opening in thebottom thereof to the in- The positerior of the casing, the said ball also having arecess adapted to be brought'to registration with the said last named opening when the lever is. in neutral position, a lock member havingha portion adapted to be-{ pro]ected into the ball recess by movement "otthe lock longitudinally in the boss, the,

inner wall of the-boss having-two pairs of notches in staggered relatiointhe said pairs being on dametrically opposite sides-of the inner wallythe said lock member being r0- tatable in the boss, and retractable plungers for engaging the, respective pail-sot notches in thewall of the bossto maintain t-helo'ck memberin a locked or unlocked position.

2. A, locking'device forshi i't levers comprising the combination with a lever having a ball like portion and a hollow supporting case therefor in the upperend of which the ball seats and which is provided 'withan aperture thru which'the lever projects, the aperture beingof a form to per f mit the rocking of the lever inany direction, and aboss integrally formed with the casing and lying at an angle to the vertical axis thereof, the said boss having'a central 7 chamber and an opening in the bottom thereof to the interior of, the "casing; the said ball also having a recess adapted "to be brought to registration with the said last by movementrof the lock longitudinally in the boss. the inner Wall of the bosshavingi named -openingwhen the lever is, in neutral i position of alock member having a ore r adapted toibe projected into the ball recess two pairs. of notches'in staggered relation,

the said pairs being on diametrically opposite sides "of the inner Wall the said lock inemberbeing rotatable 1n the boss, and retractable plungers for engaging the respectlve pairs of notches, in the wall ofthe boss to maintain the lock member in a locked or unlocked positlon.

testimony whereof, I sign this specil fication. i

WALTER M. Reason. 

